Alaska Wildfire Keeps Growing After Evacuations

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A massive, wind-whipped wildfire in Alaska's Kenai Peninsula is growing after evacuation orders were issued, but fire managers are hoping rains forecast for Tuesday will help crews gain a handle on the blaze.

The Funny River Fire covered nearly 248 square miles as of Monday morning and was 30 percent contained.

Fire management team spokesman Willie Begay says no injuries or structure damage has been reported. Authorities Sunday ordered the evacuation of 1,000 homes and other structures in the sparsely populated area 60 miles south of Anchorage.

Begay says the weather forecast for the area calls for rain Tuesday and Wednesday.

A Red Cross shelter was set up Sunday in Soldotna. Spokeswoman Beth Bennett says a second shelter was set to open in the community of Sterling on Monday.

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